Kirsten Larson
Headquarters, Washington                  Dec. 19, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-0243)

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N01-75

NASA'S MISSION CONTROL TO HELP SANTA

     NASA flight controllers in Houston will transform 
themselves into Santa's helpers this Christmas Eve, guiding 
the jolly soul on his appointed rounds.

With the assistance of the International Space Station crew 
in orbit, space station flight controllers in NASA's Mission 
Control will monitor Santa's speed, reindeer performance and 
cargo of presents for children throughout the world.

"With three people living on the space station, we have a 
unique vantage point to help Santa on his rounds," said Matt 
Abbott, flight director. "We have Yury Onufrienko, Dan Bursch 
and Carl Walz on board the station ready to help us out with 
real-time Santa sightings, and our flight control team is 
ready for this opportunity."
 
Mission Control Houston, home to legendary flight directors 
and expert flight control teams, will for a short time this 
Christmas Eve become "Santa Control, Houston."

"Santa Control, Houston" will be shown on NASA Television 
during the NASA Video File December 24, which will air at 
noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST. NASA TV is available on 
GE2, transponder 9C. The frequency is 3880 MHz with an 
orbital position of 85 degrees West Longitude, with audio at 
6.8 MHz.

More information on the Expedition Four crew and the 
International Space Station can be found on the Internet at:

             http://spaceflight.nasa.gov

                           -end-